Granular iron manufacturing apparatus and granular iron manufacturing method

Abstract

A granular iron manufacturing apparatus including: a granulation device configured to break up molten iron into a liquid drop; a cooling water tank configured to cool the liquid drop by causing the liquid drop to fall into cooling water, a water-flow controlling container that is provided inside the cooling water tank and whose upper and lower ends are open; and a cooling water pipe group configured to supply the cooling water into the water-flow controlling container.

1 - 8 . (canceled) 
     
     
         9 . A granular iron manufacturing apparatus comprising:
 a granulation device configured to break up molten iron into a liquid drop;   a cooling water tank configured to cool the liquid drop by causing the liquid drop to fall into cooling water;   a water-flow controlling container that is provided inside the cooling water tank and whose upper and lower ends are open; and   a cooling water pipe group configured to supply the cooling water into the water-flow controlling container, wherein:
 the water-flow controlling container includes a partition cylindrical body that includes an inclined surface inclined such that a horizontal cross-sectional area decreases toward a lower side and a duct cylindrical body connected to a lower portion of the partition cylindrical body, 
 the cooling water pipe group includes an upper-level cooling water pipe group and a middle-level cooling water pipe group that are connected to the partition cylindrical body and a lower-level cooling water pipe group connected to the duct cylindrical body, 
 the upper-level cooling water pipe group is connected to an upper level of the inclined surface that includes an upper end of the partition cylindrical body, and the upper-level cooling water pipe group generates with the cooling water a cooling-water flow from an upper side to the lower side along the inclined surface, 
 the middle-level cooling water pipe group is connected horizontally to a middle level of the inclined surface toward a cylindrical core of the partition cylindrical body, and the middle-level cooling water pipe group generates with the cooling water a first circulating flow that includes flows moving toward the cylindrical core of the partition cylindrical body, merging at the cylindrical core, and moving upward, the first circulating flow being accompanied by the cooling-water flow from the upper side to the lower side along the inclined surface and circulating inside the partition cylindrical body, and 
 the lower-level cooling water pipe group is connected to a side surface of the duct cylindrical body, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group generates with the cooling water and drainage water from the partition cylindrical body a second circulating flow circulating inside the duct cylindrical body. 
   
     
     
         10 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising
 a conveyance device provided below the water-flow controlling container and configured to convey granular iron cooled inside the water-flow controlling container to an outside of the cooling water tank.   
     
     
         11 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 9 , further comprising
 a processor that is configured to control a cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group into the water-flow controlling container, wherein the processor is configured to control such that the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group.   
     
     
         12 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 10 , further comprising
 a processor that is configured to control a cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group into the water-flow controlling container, wherein the processor is configured to control such that the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group.   
     
     
         13 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 a protrusion covers an upper side of a connection portion of the upper-level cooling water pipe group or the middle-level cooling water pipe group and is connected to the inclined surface.   
     
     
         14 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 a protrusion covers an upper side of a connection portion of the upper-level cooling water pipe group or the middle-level cooling water pipe group and is connected to the inclined surface.   
     
     
         15 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein
 a sectional shape of the protrusion is an inverted V shape or an inverted U shape that widens from the upper side toward the lower side.   
     
     
         16 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein
 a sectional shape of the protrusion is an inverted V shape or an inverted U shape that widens from the upper side toward the lower side.   
     
     
         17 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein
 a protective cover covers an upper side of a connection portion of the upper-level cooling water pipe group and is connected to the inclined surface, and   an upper end portion of the protective cover is closed.   
     
     
         18 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein
 a protective cover covers an upper side of a connection portion of the upper-level cooling water pipe group and is connected to the inclined surface, and an upper end portion of the protective cover is closed.   
     
     
         19 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein
 a sectional shape of the protective cover is a semicircular shape or a semielliptical shape that widens from the upper side toward the lower side.   
     
     
         20 . The granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein
 a sectional shape of the protective cover is a semicircular shape or a semielliptical shape that widens from the upper side toward the lower side.   
     
     
         21 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 9 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         22 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 10 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         23 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 11 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         24 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 12 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         25 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 13 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         26 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 14 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         27 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 17 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group. 
     
     
         28 . A granular iron manufacturing method using the granular iron manufacturing apparatus according to  claim 18 , wherein the cooling water flow supplied from the cooling water pipe group is decreased in an order from the middle-level cooling water pipe group, the upper-level cooling water pipe group, and the lower-level cooling water pipe group.